Hagoromo (A) - 飛天 (A)

This print depicts a tennyo, a celestial maiden of Japanese Buddhist and Shinto tradition, wearing or holding the hagoromo — the feathered celestial robe that grants flight and marks her divine nature. The Japanese subtitle 飛天 (hiten) refers specifically to the flying celestial beings of Buddhist iconography, descended from the Indian apsara. Kawano renders the figure with the bold, expressive contour lines characteristic of his [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) practice, likely using angular gouge work to suggest movement in the trailing robe. The composition probably shows the figure in a swirling, airborne pose, with areas of vivid flat color — perhaps deep blue or vermilion — contrasted against lighter passages suggesting sky or cloud. This is one of several known variants in the Hagoromo series, differing in colorway or compositional details from the B variant.